NEUROPEPTIDES AND THEIR USE AS INSECTICIDES

Abstract: This invention relates to novel neuropeptides isolated from Calliphora vomitoria, which are suitable for use in insecticidal formulations for controlling insects.

Description: NEUROPEPTIDES AND THEIR USE AS INSECTICIDES Neuropeptides capable of inhibiting the production of juvenile hormone by the corpus allatum of insects have been termed allatostatins. To date, members of this class of neuropeptides have been identified in only two species, from two different orders of insects. In the cockroach, Diploptera punctata (Order: Blattodea) five allatostatins ranging in size from 8 to 18 amino acids have been characterised. In the tobacco hornworm moth, Manduca sexta (Order: Lepidoptera) one allatostatin has been identified. The References to these compounds together with their amino acid sequences are as follows:- (i) oodhead AP, Stay B,Seidel SL, Khan MA and Tobe SS. (1989) Primary structure of four allatostatins: neuropeptide inhibitors of juvenile hormone synthesis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 5997-6001 discloses the following sequences: 1. Ala-Pro-Ser-Gly-Ala-Gln-Arg-Leu-Tyr-Gly-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH 2 2. Gly-Asp-Gly-Arg-Leu-Tyr-Ala-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH 2 3. Gly-Gly-Ser-Leu-Tyr-Ser-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH 2 4. Asp-Arg-Leu-Tyr-Ser-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH 2 ; (ii) Pratt GE, Farnsworth DE, Fok KF, Seigel NR, McCormack AL, Shabanowitz J, Hunt DF, and Feyereisen R. (1991) Identity of a second type of allatostatin from cockroach brains: An octadecapeptide amide with a tyrosine-rich address. Proc. Natl. Acad, Sci. USA 88: 2412-2416 dis¬ closes the following sequence: Ala-Tyr-Ser-Tyr-Val-Ser-Glu-Tyr-Lys-Arg-Leu-Pro-Val-Tyr- Asn-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH 2 ; and (iii) Kramer SJ, Toschi A, Miller CA, Kataoka H, Quistad GB, Li, JP, Carney RL, Schooley DA. (1991) . Identification of an allatostatin from the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 9458-9462 discloses the amino acid sequence: pGlu-Val-Arg-Phe-Arg-Gln-Cys-Tyr-Phe-Asn-Pro-Ile-Ser-Cys-Phe-OH The significance of these compounds lies in the fact that "in vitro" they have been shown to inhibit the production of juvenile hormone by the corpus allatum. This hormone plays a crucial role in insect development by controlling metamorphosis, adult sexual maturity and reproduction. Interference with juvenile hormone biosynthesis and release through exploitation of the allatostatins could lead to insect control strategies that do not damage the environment. The present invention is based on the discovery and potential practical commercial applications of one or more of five neuropeptides now identified from the blowfly, Calliphora vomitoria. These are the first allatostatins to be isolated from insects belonging to the Order: Diptera. The amino acid sequences of the newly discovered neuropeptides designated "callatostatins 1-4" are as follows: (1) Asp-Pro-Leu-Asn-Glu-GIu-Arg-Arg-AIa-Asn-Arg-Tyr-Gly-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH- (2) Leu-Asn-Glu-Glu-Arg-Arg-AIa-Asn-Arg-Tyr-Gly-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH 2 (3) Ala-Asn-Arg-Tyr-Gly-Phe-GIy-Leu-NH, (4) (Asp) -Arg-Pro-Tyr-Ser-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH, or (Asn) The amino acid sequence of the more preferred neuropeptide termed "callatostatin 5" is:- (5) GIy-Pro-Pro-Tyr-Asp-Phe-Gly-Met-NH 2 i.e. Glycine-Proline-Proline-Tyrosine-Aspartic Acid- Phenylalanine-Glycine-Methionine-Amide. "Callatostatin 5," as defined above was isolated from extracts of whole flies. Subsequently, callatostatin 5 has been identified on three separate occasions from acid alcohol extracts of the separated heads of blowflies. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the final methionyl residue is carboxyamidated by means of standard methylation procedures and comparisons of the masses of methylated and non-methylated peptides. The extraction of the callatostatins from whole flies and also from separated heads was performed using 80% methanol/0.1 M HCL/0.1% 2-mercapto-ethanol or a mixture of 87% methanol/5% acetic acid/8% water followed by acetone precipitation. Purification of the extracts was carried out by means of a series of HPLC step including the use of semipreparative (7.8mm i.d.), analytical (3.9mm) and narrow- bore (2.1mm) columns using C18, C8, C4,Cyano and Phenyl and Waters Protein Pak 125 packing materials. Gradients of acetonitrile/water with 0.1% TFA or lOmM ammonium acetate were used routinely. Schematically, this is shown in Table 1 below. Function of Callatostatin 5. This neuropeptide is the most potent inhibitor of juvenile hormone (JH) production so far known when tested in the "in vitro" bioassay using the corpora allata of the cockroach Diploptera punctata. Thus, it causes maximum inhibition of JH at a concentration of 1 nM, with a 50% inhibition (ED 5Q ) being achieved at O.lnM. In comparison, the allatostatin of Manduca sexta has an ED 50 of 2nM and the most potent of the naturally occurring allatostatins of Diploptera punctata has an ED 50 of 0.3nM. In experiments carried out on the blowfly itself, callatostatin appears not to act as an allatostatin. Thus, under the conditions of experiment we have so far applied we do not record an inhibition of juvenile hormone bisepoxide (JHB 3 ) , the major JH compound in the blowfly. Immunocytochemical studies have revealed that neurones containing this neuropeptide project not to the corpus allatum, (as they would if the peptide controlled JHB 3 production) but to integrative neuropil in the brain and thoracic ganglion and also to areas of the gut. The 'essential novel features' of the five - A - "callatostatins" compounds (l)-(5) above are as follows:- (i) They are the first of this group of compounds to be isolated from the major order of insects, the Diptera. (ii) Callatostatin 5 has some similarities with the blattodean series of allatostatins (and is a homologue of the four other dipteran allatostatins (1) to (4)). However, this particular peptide is unique in having a C-terminal carboxyamidated ethionyl residue. [The normal C-terminal pentapeptide motif of the allatostatins in both Diptera and Blattodea is -Tyr-Xaa-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH 2 , where Xaa, in the peptides so far identified, is Gly, Ala, Ser, or Asn] . In callatostatin 5 Xaa is Asp, but unique to all the allatostatins, the terminal residue shows a substitution of methionine for leucine. (iii) At the N-terminus, callatostatin 5 is unique amongst all other allatostatins in having prolyl residues at positions 2 and 3. This pair of amino acids most probably confers conformational properties not possessed by any other of the allatostatins. (iv) This naturally occurring blowfly neuropeptide is surprisingly and quite unexpectedly unique in having potent JH- inhibiting properties in another insect (the cockroach) in which it has not been shown to be present as a normal neuropeptide. (v) The interspecific functionality described in (iv) is highly significant for potential insect control methods and formulations as explained by the following argument. Naturally occurring biologically active peptides (such as insulin in man) are present in exceptionally low concentration in the blood. To this end they are rapidly degraded by enzymatic processes within the body. Whilst normal, low levels of these active molecules have dramatic physiological effects, high blood titres are potentially damaging (hyperinsulinae ia, for example, may have fatal consequences) . (vi) Recent experiments suggest that one explanation for callatostatin 5's extremely potent JH-inhibiting properties in the cockroach may result from the inability of this species to degrade the blowfly peptide, perhaps due to its C- and N- terminal modifications. The callatostatin neuropeptides (1) to (5) as defined above by amino acid sequence are embraced by the present invention in their substantially pure form and have commercially attractive potential as active insectidal agents. They inhibit reproduction or growth and development in cockroaches. These neuropeptides could well be an inhibitor of growth and development and/or reproduction in all other insect species. In place of the extraction route from blowflies, the callatostatins (1) to (5) , but (5) in particular could be εynthesised from more conventional chemical routes, and techniques are known in the art for synthesising short chain peptide molecules, given the amino acid sequence. Accordingly it is within the competence of the notional skilled worker to make at least trial quantities of compounds (1) to (5) and particularly of the most preferred compound (5) . In one aspect of the invention we provide a "callatostatin" as herein defined as a compound, in substantially pure form, represented by the amino acid sequence defined above for callatostatins (1) to (5) . In another aspect of the present invention we provide insecticidal formulations which contain as active principle, one or more of callatostatins (1) to (5) as defined above. In a still further aspect of this invention we provide a method of controlling insects, particularly of the order Blattodea, which comprises administering to the insects or to their immediate environment an insecticidal formulation which comprises one or more of callatostatins (1) to (5) as defined above. Preferably such formulations contain callatostatin (5) as herein defined as the major active principle. NUMBER OF SEQUENCES INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO 1 SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS LENGTH 16 amino acids TYPE amino acid TOPOLOGY linear MOLECULE TYPE peptide ORIGINAL SOURCE ORGANISM Calliphora vomitoria SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION SEQ ID NO. 1 Asp Pro Leu Asn Glu Glu Arg Arg Ala Asn Arg Tyr Gly Phe Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS LENGTH 14 amino acids TYPE amino acid TOPOLOGY linear MOLECULE TYPE peptide ORIGINAL SOURCE ORGANISM Calliphora vomitoria SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION SEQ ID NO . 2 Leu Asn Glu Glu Arg Arg Ala Asn Arg Tyr Gly Phe Gly Leu 1 5 10 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO. 3 SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS LENGTH 8 amino acids TYPE amino acid TOPOLOGY linear MOLECULE TYPE peptide ORIGINAL SOURCE ORGANISM Calliphora vomitoria SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION SEQ ID NO. 3 Ala Asn Arg Tyr Gly Phe Gly Leu 1 5 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO. 4 SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS LENGTH 7 amino acids TYPE amino acid TOPOLOGY linear MOLECULE TYPE peptide ORIGINAL SOURCE ORGANISM Calliphora vomitoria SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION SEQ ID NO . 4 . Asx Arg Pro Tyr Ser Phe Gly 1 5 INFORMATION FOR SEQ 10 NO.5 SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS LENGTH 8 amino acids TYPE amino acid TOPOLOGY linear MOLECULE TYPE peptide ORIGINAL SOURCE ORGANISM Calliphora vomitoria FEATURE NAME/KEY misc - feature LOCATION 8 OTHER INFORMATION Xaa is Methionine - Amide SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION SEQ ID NO . 5 . Gly Pro Pro Tyr Asp Phe Gly Xaa 1 5

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A diptera neuropeptide. 2. A peptide according to claim 1 wherein the Diptera Species is Calliphora vomitoria. 3. A peptide according to claim 1 or claim 2 which comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 1. 4. A peptide according to claim 1 or claim 2 which comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 2. 5. A peptide according to claim 1 or claim 2 which comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 3. 6. A peptide according to claim 1 or claim 2 which comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 4. 7. A peptide according to claim 1 or claim 2 which comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 5. 8. An insecticidal formulation comprising a peptide as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 together with a carrier therefor. 9. A method of preparing a peptide as claimed in any one of claims l to 8 comprising: (i) extracting the peptide from either the whole bodies or the heads of Calliphora vomitoria; (II) purifying the extracts using HPLC. 10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the peptide is extracted using methanol and either hydrochloric acid and mercaptoethanol, or acetic acid and water. 11. A method of preparing a peptide as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 comprising chemically linking the component amino acids. 12. A method of killing insects comprising administering to the insects an insecticidal formulation as claimed in claim 8. 13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the insecticidal formulation is administered as a spray. 14. A method of controlling insects comprising spraying an insecticidal formulation as claimed in claim 8 into an infested area.

Inventors: DUVE HANNE, JOHNSON ANDERS, THORPE ALAN, TOBE STEPHEN, DUVE, HANNE, JOHNSON, ANDERS, THORPE, ALAN, TOBE, STEPHEN
Applicants: DUVE HANNE, JOHNSON ANDERS, NAT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, QUEEN MARY & WESTFIELD COLLEGE, THORPE ALAN, TOBE STEPHEN, UNIV TORONTO, DUVE, HANNE, JOHNSON, ANDERS, QUEEN MARY AND WESTFIELD COLLEGE, THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, THORPE, ALAN, TOBE, STEPHEN, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Application year: 1994
Main classification: C07K7
IPC codes: A01N25, A01N63, C07K7, C07K14